Coat hanger



y 1944- w. A. RINGLER 1 2,349,200

COAT HANGER Filed May 28. 1942 INVENTOR. MLL/AM A. RINGLE ATTO R N EYS.

Patented May 16, 1944 IUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to coat hangers and has as the objective theconstruction of such a hanger from relatively thin paperboard.

My objectives are simplicity in construction,

and simplicity in manufacture and setting up,

the elimination of metal, and the use of double thickness so thatrelatively thin board can be used and a strong enough structure result.

At the present time saving of metal is a specific requirement for allmanufacturers, and the coat hanger of my invention will have sufiicientstrength and durability to replace metal coat hangers. Incident to itsconstruction is the prof vision of a somewhat expanded structure, whichwill adapt itself to the problem of hanging up garments with the minimumtendency to form creases in them. In producing a handle for thestructure so that it can be placed on a hook, I prefer a mode ofconstruction which will accommodate itself to easy manufacturingmethods, and as will be noted, I provide four thicknesses of material atthe sloping shoulder elements of my device where the strain of the loadis applied to the elongated transverse element.

I accomplish my objects by that construction and arrangement of which aspecific example will be illustrated and described, the inventivefeatures whereof will be set forth in the claims that follow, to whichreference is hereby made.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a plan view of the preferred form of blank,as cut and stamped ready for folding.

Figure 2 is a like View of the parts when folded.

Figure 3 is a detail showing the detachment of the handle member priorto setting up the hanger.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the completed set-up structure.

- Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified blank.

The elongated blank has a body portion I, and a handle portion 2, thelatter being separated-in the cutting out operation so that there areonly a few nicks 3 connecting the same to the body portion, thusfacilitating tearing off later, while holding the composite blanktogether during folding and gluing. The main body portion has two outerpanels 4 and 5 defined by score lines from the rest of the body portion.A piece is entirely removed at G inwardly from most of the panel 4, anda long flap I is formed inwardly of the panel 5, shaped to be thrustthrough the opening at 6. The blank is scored at 8 midway of its length,which score also passes through the handle portion 2. The branches 9 andH] at the two ends of the main portion of the blank and which extendaround the ends of the cuts at 6 and 1 form the shoulder portions of thehanger,

and the two central portions H and I2, form the upper part of thehanger, there being a slot l3 in the score line 8 midway of the portionsI I and I2, for reception of the hook.

The branches 9 and I0 are formed with scores I4 and I5, angularlyrelated to each other and converging on the central score 8 to formdepressible double triangular portions to impart the slope to theshoulder portions. To facilitate bending the central score reversely atthis point, slots 16 may be cut therein in forming the blank. Also, ifdesired, holes I! may be punched in the angular scores also for a likepurpose.

It, is preferred to out tongues 18 in the flap 1, and notches IS in theouter edge of the panel 4, to provide an interlock, as will bedescribed.

Referring to the handle portion of the blank, it has the two hook-shapedportions 2!] and 2| which match each other and the panels 22 and 23,which form the gripper element of the hook. These gripper elements donot need to be scored in continuation of the scores marking out thepanels 4 and 5.

In making 'up the hanger in the fiat, the entire blank may be providedwith'a line of cement as at 24 in Figure 6 and be folded along thecentral score 8 to cement the members 4 and 5, and the members 22 and 23together, thus making a double thickness structure. In such a case thetongues I8 and the notches l9 Willnot be needed. and the structure willbe shipped in the doubled form. Where the tongued construction is used,the structure may be shipped unfolded and entirely set up when put intouse.

In either event the handle portion is pulled away from the main bodyportion (Fig. 3) and in doubled form thrust up through the slot l3whereupon the hook protrudes and the gripper panels will catch on theunslotted portion of the scored portion 8 (Fig. 4). After thrusting thehandle into place, the shoulders are formed by pushing down on thecentral score line, then at the same time the main body portion isdoubled on itself with the flap 1 thrust through the opening 5, and thetongues l8 bent and thrust under the panel 4, in the notches 19 thereof.

The result of this preferred form is to present an inverted V-shapedtransverse portion A (Fig. over which trousers may be laid, or a skirtfolded and laid, without any sharp edges presented to the garment as ina simple coat hanger of metal. The shoulder portions will also tend toremain expanded due to the scores defining the two outer panels 4 and 5permitting bending of the board at that point. The edges of the panels 4and 5 and of the flap I, may be scalloped in order to resist sliding ofgarments hung across the lower portion of the completed hanger.

In the glued type of structure, the flap 1 will protrude so that whenthrust into place in the act of insertin a garment over the lowerportion of the structure to give a similar inverted triangular effect.will also tend to expand somewhat, although not so much as in thepreferred structure.

When made of .030 kraft with chestnut filler (as an example) the hangerwill be very sturdy, and repeated use thereof will be possible. There isdouble thickness for strength, and four thicknesses at the shoulders. Itmay be desirable to make the handle portion separately and glue itcompletely together thus giving somewhat more resistance to bendingunder careless imposition of weight on the hanger when in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

' l. A paperboard coat hanger comprising a medially folded blank, acut-out portion intermediate its length when folded, means for holdingthe blank in doubled position, and shoulder portions for the blankformed by fold lines converging to the central folding line, whereby theblank may be reversely folded inwardly at the shoulder portions formingfour thicknesses of material at the resulting sloping structure, and ahandle portion for the hanger formed of a separate piece of paperboardfolded double and cut when so folded to form a hook portion and a basalprojecting portion, said blank having a slot in its medial fold line forpassage of the hook portion but not the basal portion.

2. A paperboard coat hanger comprising a medially folded blank having acut-out portion intermediate its length when folded, means for holdingthe blank in doubled position, and shoulder portions for the blankformed by fold lines converging to the central folding line, whereby theblank may be reversely folded inwardly at the shoulder portions formingfour thickness of material at the resulting sloping structure, and ahandle portion for the hanger formed of a separate piece of paperboardconfigured to form hook portions in opposition and connected by a foldline and basal projecting portions at the ends of the hook portions,said piece of paperboard being folded double whereby said hook portionsare connected at their tops, said blank having a slot in its medial foldline for the passage of the hook portions but not the basal portions,and said hook portions being so inserted in said blank whereby the hookportions are held together at their tops by the connection between themand at their basal portions by their engagement with said folded blank.

A paperboard coat hanger comprising a medially folded blank having acut-out portion intermediate its length when folded, means for holdingthe blank in doubled position, and shoulder portions for the blankformed by fold lines converging to the central folding line, whereby theblank may be reversely folded inwardly at the shoulder portions formingfour tricknesses of material. at the resulting sloping structure, and ahandle portion for the hanger formed of a The sloping shoulder portionsseparate piece of paperboard configured to form hook portions inopposition and connected by a folded line and basal projecting portionsat the ends of the hook portions, said piece of paperboard being foldeddouble whereby said hook portions are connected at their tops, saidblank having a slot in its medial fold line for the passage of the hookportions but not the basal portions, and said hook portions being soinserted in said blank whereby the hook portions are held together attheir tops by the connection between them and at their basal portions bytheir engagement with said folded blank, said intermediate cut-outportion being formed in one of the halves of the blank by a flap whichwhen the blank is doubled, is insertable through the cutout portion inthe other one of the halves.

' 4. A paperboard coat hanger comprising a medially folded blank havinga cut-out portion intermediate its length when folded, means for holdingthe blank in doubled position, and shoulder portions for the blankformed by fold lines converging to the central folding line, whereby theblank may be reversely folded inwardly at the shoulder portions formingfour thicknesses of material at the resulting sloping structure, and ahandle portion for the hanger formed of a separate piece of paperboardconfigured to form hook portions in opposition and connected by a foldline and basal projecting portions at the ends of the hook portions,said piece of paperboard being folded double whereby said hook portionsare connected at their tops, said blank having a slot in its medial foldline for the passage of the hook portions but not the basal portions,and said hook portions being so inserted in said blank whereby the hookportions are held together at their tops by the connection between themand at their basal portions by their engagement with said folded blank,said intermediate cut-out portion being formed in one of the halves ofthe blank by a flap which when the blank is doubled, is insertablethrough the cut-out portion in the other one of the halves, said flaphaving tongues cut therein, there being notches in the margin of theblank to receive said tongues.

5. A paperboard coat hanger comprising a medially folded blank having acut-out portion intermediate its length when folded, means for holdingthe blank in doubled position, and shoulder portions for the blankformed by fold lines converging to the central folding line, whereby theblank may be reversely folded inwardly at the shoulder portions formingfour thicknesses of material at the resulting sloping structure, and ahandle portion for the hanger formed of a separate piece of paperboardconfigured to form hook portions in opposition and connected by a foldline and basal projecting portions at the ends of the hook portions,said piece of paperboard being folded double whereby said hook portionsare connected at their tops, said blank having a slot in its medial foldline for the passage of the hook portions but not the basal portions,and said hook portions being so inserted in said blank whereby the hookportions are held together at their tops by the connection between themand at their basal portions by their engagement with said folded blank,said intermediate cut-out portion being formed in one of the halves ofthe blank by a flap which when the blank is doubled, is insertablethrough the cut-out portion in the other one of the halves, said flaphaving tongues cut therein, there being notches in the margin of theblank to receive said tongues, said hook portions adjacent the basalportions of said handle being notched whereby to produce an engagementwith said blank effectiv in preventing accidental displacement of saidhandle portion with reference to said blank.

6. A blank for a garment hanger comprising an elongated piece ofpaperboard having a medial score line throughout its length, said blankbeing divided by a transverse line of weakening into an elongated andgenerally rectangular body blank for a garment hanger and a handleblank, said blanks being of substantially the same width, said handleblank being configured to provide opposed hook portions top to top andoutlying basal portions, said body blank having a slot in its medialscore line centrally and of a length to accent said hook portions butnot said basal portions, said body blank having lines of score slantingfrom the side edges thereof to the medial score line so that when saidbody blank is doubled triangular portions can be depressed giving asloping configuration to portions of the top edge of the blank.

7. A blank for a garment hanger comprising an elongated piece ofpaperboard having a medial score line throughout its length, said blankbeing divided by a transverse line of weakening into an elongated andgenerally rectangular body blank for a garment hanger and a handleblank, said blanks being of substantially the same width, said handleblank being configured to provide opposed hook portions top to top andoutlying basal portions, said body blank having a slot in its medialscore line centrally and of a length to accept said hook portions butnot said basal portions, said body blank having lines of score slantingfrom the side edges thereof to the medial score line so that when saidbody blank is doubled triangular portions can be depressed giving asloping configuration to portions of the top edge of the blank, saidbody blank being further characterized by means for holding the twohalves thereof together.

8. A blank for a garment hanger comprising an elongated piece ofpaperboard having a medial score line throughout its length, said blankbeing divided by a transverse line of weakening into an elongated andgenerally rectangular body blank for a garment hanger and a handleblank, said blanks being of substantially the same width, said handleblank being configured to provide opposed hook portions top to top andoutlying basal portions, said body blank having a slot in its medialscore line centrally and of a length to accept said hook portions butnot said basal portions, said body blank having lines of score slantingfrom the side edges thereof to the medial score line so that when saidbody blank is doubled triangular portions can be depressed giving asloping configuration to portions of the top edge of the blank, andelongated flap formed in one of the halves of said body blank andadapted to be passed through a cut-out in the other half of said bodyblank to provide garment hanger having a lower rail.

9. A blank for a garment hanger comprising an elongated piece ofpaperboard having a medial score line throughout its length, said blankbeing divided by a transverse line of weakening into an elongated andgenerally rectangular body blank for a garment hanger and a handleblank, said blanks being of substantially the same width, said handleblank being configured to provide opposed hook portions top to top andoutlying basal portions, said body blank having a slot in its medialscore line centrally and of a length to accept said hook portions butnot said basal portions, said body blank having lines of score slantingfrom the side edges thereof to the medial score line so that when saidbody blank is doubled triangular portions can be depressed giving asloping configuration to portions of the top edge of the blank, saidhandle blank being so con figured adjacent the hook portions thereof asto present notches for engagement with said body blank in such a manneras to prevent displacement of said handle portion with respect to saidbody blank.

WILLIAM A. RINGLER.

